1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Supreme Court Appoints Panel To Examine Over 235 Cases

The Supreme Court today (16 August) appointed a panel comprising two retired judges to examine more than 235 cases in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The top court said the panel would supervise whether the cases in which a closure report had been filed were correct, and asked a review of all the cases and submit a report within three months.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra passed this verdict while hearing the plea filed by Gurlad Singh Kahlon.

Earlier on 2 August, the court had directed petitioner Kahlon to file his suggestions in connection with the riot cases. Kahlon had sought the court's direction for setting up of an SIT to ensure speedy justice to the riot victims.

The apex court had earlier directed the centre to deposit more than 190 files in connection with this case.

Expressing serious concern over the closure of more than 190 cases, of a total of the 293 cases referred to the SIT on 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases, the court asked the Union of India to produce on record, on 25 April, all the files related to the closure of these cases.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that the SIT in as many as 263 cases had no case files and there was no trace of any victim or witness.

On 20 February, the centre filed a status report in the top court on the investigation conducted by the SIT into the anti-Sikh riot cases. The court had asked the government to brief it within four weeks on the steps taken in the matter, after the centre had said that the SIT's work was "in progress".

Anti-Sikh riots that broke out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi had claimed 2,433 lives in Delhi alone. (ANI)